Kohetsu Shinano Blue #2 Bunka 210mm

Blue #2 - Hitachi Aogami #2 - is one of the most trusted carbon steels in the Japanese knife tradition. Tougher and more forgiving than Blue #1, easier to sharpen than many stainless alternatives, and capable of a sharpness that rewards cooks who take sharpening seriously. At 62 HRC the edge holds well through daily kitchen use and comes back quickly on quality water stones. The Kohetsu Shinano line wraps Blue #2 in stainless cladding - keeping all but the carbon edge protected from moisture and making day-to-day care practical. Made in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, exclusively for CKTG.

The bunka at 214mm is the larger format in the Shinano line - full chef knife length with the reverse tanto tip profile and 49mm blade height for confident board work through larger produce and proteins. At 5.9 oz it has real presence without feeling heavy. The tanto-style tip handles garnish work, detail cuts, and tight spaces that a rounded gyuto tip would struggle with. Blue #2 at 62 HRC - sharp, edge-retentive, and easy to bring back on quality stones. Even 50/50 double-bevel grind works equally well for right- and left-handed cooks. CKTG is the only source for the Kohetsu Shinano line.

What Customers Are Saying: Four five-star reviews. A professional cook with two decades of restaurant experience calls it one of the best prep knives he has owned. A first-time Japanese steel buyer describes falling in love with the knife - noting it is more brittle than German steel as expected from the thin blade and razor edge, and emphasizing it is not for bones or frozen foods - but for regular slicing, dicing, and chopping it is exceptional. A reviewer in Germany received it in under 48 hours and calls the visual simplicity of the blade what sets these knives apart.

Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel - the stainless cladding protects the flanks but the exposed carbon edge will patina naturally with use. Wipe and dry the blade immediately after every use. Avoid leaving acidic foods on the edge. Hand wash only, never dishwasher. Apply camellia oil for long-term storage. Sharpen on quality water stones - Blue #2 at 62 HRC sharpens easily and rewards good technique. Strop regularly between sharpenings.

• Brand: Kohetsu
• Line: Shinano
• Exclusive: CKTG Exclusive - Available Only at CKTG
• Location: Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
• Construction: San Mai
• Edge Steel: Blue #2 (Aogami #2) Carbon Steel
• Cladding: Stainless
• HRC: 62
• Edge Grind: Even 50/50 Double Bevel
• Handle: Walnut Octagonal
• Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
• Weight: 5.9 oz (166g)
• Blade Length: 214mm
• Total Length: 368mm
• Spine Thickness at Base: 3mm
• Blade Height: 49mm